The UN panel investigating the Israeli military interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla held "substantive" discussions and is scheduled to resume work early next month, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday, dpa reported.
Ban said the four-member panel had two full days of discussions since Tuesday at UN headquarters in New York.
In his brief statement on behalf of the group, Ban provided no details about their talks, activities and whereabouts, if any, between this week and early September.
"The panel began its substantive discussions on how it will conduct its work," Ban said in a statement. "It also met with UN secretariat to ensure that administrative arrangements and support are either in train or have been establishment."
"The discussions were conducted with good cooperation and in a positive atmosphere," he said. The panel is expected to write an interim report for Ban on September 15.
When Ban met with the panel for the first time on Tuesday, the effectiveness of the inquiry into the Israeli military raid on May 31 off the coast of Gaza Strip was clouded by a claim that Ban had agreed to put Israeli soldiers off limits of the investigators.
Ban and the UN repeatedly denied any deal was made with the Israeli government.
The panel is headed by former New Zealand prime minister Geoffrey Palmer and co-chaired by outgoing President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia. The other members are Ozdem Sanberk of Turkey and Joseph Ciechanover of Israel.
The panel was given a mandate on Tuesday when it met with Ban. The UN said the panel was to seek "the fullest cooperation of the national authorities" and meet requirements decided by the UN Security Council.
The 15-nation council, following the May 31 incident, called for a "full investigation" that should be "prompt, impartial, credible and transparent" in accordance with international standards.
"The panel is not designed to determine individual criminal responsibility, but to examine and identify the facts, circumstances and the context of the incident, as well as to recommend ways of avoiding future incidents," the UN said.
"For that purpose, the panel will receive and review reports of national investigations into the incident and request such clarifications and information as it may require from relevant national authorities," it said.
Israeli troops stormed the flotilla off the coast of the Gaza Strip on May 31, seized the ships carrying supplies destined for Gaza and hundreds of participants involved in the relief efforts. The ships and passengers were subsequently released.
Eight Turkish nationals and one American Turk were killed in the raid.